Paw power showcased at Flathead Classic
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 4 months AGO
Sara Parr begins the four-dog class 5.5-mile race Saturday during Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race at the Dog Creek Lodge west of Olney. Parr won the race with a time of 54:45.(Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Kim Stanley of Canada comes in to the finish line Saturday during the 5.5-mile race during the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race at the Dog Creek Lodge west of Olney. (Heidi Desch photos/Whitefish Pilot)
Teresa Petterson comes in to the finish line Saturday during the two-dog skijoring race.
Kim Stanley of Canada leaves the starting line Saturday during the 5.5-mile race during the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race at the Dog Creek Lodge west of Olney. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Charlotte Burkhardt leaves the starting line Saturday during the six-dog class of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race at the Dog Creek Trailhead west of Olney. Mushers traveled from Olney to Polebridge and then returned Sunday in the 82-mile race. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Roy Etnire’s team pulls hard leaving the starting line of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race Saturday at the Dog Creek Trailhead.
Clayton Perry of Power leaves the starting line of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race Saturday at the Dog Creek Trailhead west of Olney. Mushers traveled from Olney to Polebridge and then returned Sunday in the 82-mile race. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Jerry Bath of Wyoming leaves the starting line of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race Saturday at the Dog Creek Trailhead west of Olney. Mushers traveled from Olney to Polebridge and then returned Sunday in the 82-mile race. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Steve Riggs of Olney leaves the starting line of the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race Saturday at the Dog Creek Trailhead west of Olney. Mushers traveled from Olney to Polebridge and then returned Sunday in the 82-mile race.
Phillip McGrady of Columbia Falls takes off from the start line Saturday during the two-dog skijoring race.
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | March 1, 2017 9:04 AM
Whitefish musher Sara Parr took first place in the four-dog adult class race at the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race last weekend.
Parr finished the 5.5 mile course around the Dog Creek Lodge with a time of 54:45. She was followed closely by Kim Stanley of Canada with a time of 56:35. Third place was taken by Canadian Margie Leopold and Nancy Harland took fourth.
The Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race finished on Sunday after two days of racing staged at the Dog Creek Lodge near Olney. Teams from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Canada raced for prize money of $2,500.
In the 12-dog class race 82-mile race, Jerry Bath of Lander, Wyoming, took first place. Bath crossed the finish line at 12:06 p.m. on Sunday with an overall race time of 6 hours, 55 minutes and 45 seconds.
Teams left Olney on Saturday raced to Polebridge, where they camped for the night, and then returned to Olney on Sunday to finish the 82-mile race.
Second place went to Brett Bruggeman, third to Laura Daugereau, fourth to Laurie Warren, and fifth to Clayton Perry.
In the eight-dog class race to Polebridge and back, Maeva Waterman of Bozeman finished in first place followed closely by Roy Etnire of Montana. Etnire was 32 seconds behind in total race time behind Waterman.
Third place went to Olney resident Steve Riggs and fourth place went to Adam Buch of Canada.
The six-dog class included two teenagers from Oregon. First place went to Charlotte Burkhardt and second went to Morgan Anderson.
Two days of racing also included a two-dog junior race and a one- and two-dog skijoring event.
In both skijoring events, Dan Hanks of Idaho took first place finishing the 5.5-mile course. In second place in the two-dog skijoring, was Teresa Petterson following by local Philip McGrady of Columbia Falls in third.
In the one-dog class, second went to Teresa Petterson and Georgia Hall took third.
The last race of the day was the two dog junior with 6-year-old Harleigh Dutton as the only contender.
Best Cared For Team Award was presented by Whitefish veterinarian Dr. Laura Thiele to Brett Bruggeman of Great Falls.
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